Category Archives: restaurants & cafes

Travelers visiting Montevideo as a side trip from Buenos Aires will find Uruguay’s food scene similar to Argentina’s. There is a huge Italian influence. Beef is plentiful. And the dinner hour starts at 8PM and extends well into the night.

This list of gay-friendly food destinations in Montevideo includes some of the city’s best fine dining establishments and simple places to grab a chivito, the big-and-tasty national sandwich of Uruguay. Check out the VamosGay Google Map of Montevideo to navigate one of the most gay-friendly cities in Latin America!

Candy Bar Palermo

Durazno 1402 Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Sun 12PM – 8PM
Tue – Fri 11AM – 1AM
Sat 12PM – 3AM
Ranked as the #1 destination for desserts in Montevideo, Candy Bar Palermo has much more than sweets. It is also one of the city’s best restopubs with great food and well-crafted cocktails. Sunday brunch from 12 to 4 is highly recommended, but beware the space is small and may be crowded.

El Tinkal

Luis de la Torre 502 Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Mon – Sat 9AM – 12AM
Not really gay or straight … just a great restaurant at the top of the list of the places to try a chivito, the national sandwich of Uruguay, which consists primarily of a thin slice of filet mignon, with mozzarella, tomatoes, mayonnaise, black or green olives, and may often include bacon, fried or hard-boiled eggs and ham.” El Tinkal is located near the Rambla (Montevideo’s waterfront) and is a good place to fuel up for a long walk.

La Fonda

Perez Castellano 1442 Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Tue – Sun 12PM – 4PM
Thu – Sat 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
One of the top 10 places to eat in Montevideo is also gay-friendly … and an excellent option for vegetarians and vegans in a city full of carnivores. (But, don’t worry, La Fonda’s menu includes a few options of chicken, fish, and red meat to keep everyone happy.) Make a note of the restaurant’s hours for lunch and dinner above. La Fonda has a tendency to open a bit later and close a bit earlier than advertised.

La Pasiva

Avenida 18 de Julio 1350 Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
This traditional diner with a full menu is famous for its hot dogs. Gay travelers can’t resist taking selfies in front of the restaurant’s logo La Pasiva (Spanish slang for “the bottom role in gay sex.”) The restaurant’s logo also includes a cartoonish boy ready to swallow a gigantic sausage! The restaurant chain has several locations. La Pasiva on Avenida 18 de Julio is the most iconic and sits at the center of gay Montevideo.

Theo

Theo is a gastropub with solid menu featuring creative daily specials. Aside from the food, Theo has cultivated a crowd of attractive young gay guys. (Is the masculine bearded logo of Theo trying to tell us something?) Check the Theo Facebook page for events like live music on Thursdays.